THE STANDINGS AND FALLINGS AT THE BREAK

Just so you know where we are and where we’re going.

American League
East	W	L	Pct	GB	Streak
Boston Red Sox	57	40	.588	--	Won 2	Deep and deeper. Great mix of young and old but will the bullpen let them down?
Tampa Bay Rays	55	39	.585	0.5	Lost 7	The story of the year thus far – but NOW is when the pressure starts.
New York Yankees	50	45	.526	6.0	Lost 1	All and all they did all right but the next month will tell us much more
Toronto Blue Jays	47	48	.495	9.0	Won 1	Will A.J. Burnett drop the periods when he’s traded?
Baltimore Orioles	45	48	.484	10.0	Lost 2	Good season for Dave Trembley – this team is far from awful and in another division could be a genuine 3^rd place team.

Central	W	L	Pct	GB	Streak
Chicago White Sox	54	40	.574	--	Lost 1	Carlos Quentin makes the White Sox a very good club.
Minnesota Twins	53	42	.558	1.5	Lost 1	Ron Gardenhire rules! Francisco Liriano will back very soon.
Detroit Tigers	47	47	.500	7.0	Won 1	“I don't care too much for money, cause money can't buy me love” or a pennant
Kansas City Royals	43	53	.448	12.0	Lost 1	Improving to the point where they are on their way to mediocrity
Cleveland Indians	41	53	.436	13.0	Won 4	Trivia Question: Can anybody remember who was in the ALCS last year against the BoSox.

West	W	L	Pct	GB	Streak
Los Angeles Angels	57	38	.600	--	Won 2	When people talk about the best team in baseball, why are the Halos always forgotten?
Oakland Athletics	51	44	.537	6.0	Lost 2	Always using their Beane.
Texas Rangers	50	46	.521	7.5	Won 1	Now if Hamilton, Kinsler and Young could pitch as well….
Seattle Mariners	37	58	.389	20.0	Won 1	Changing their names to the Submariners would be accurate.

National League
East	W	L	Pct	GB	Streak
Philadelphia Phillies	52	44	.542	--	Won 1	Their rotation needs to be more than Cole Hamels and some other guys.
New York Mets	51	44	.537	0.5	Won 9	The winning streak is no flukedome. They need another outfielder.
Florida Marlins	50	45	.526	1.5	Lost 1	Don’t count this team out. Be nice to Dan Uggla.
Atlanta Braves	45	50	.474	6.5	Won 2	Mark Teixeira to the Red Sox?
Washington Nationals	36	60	.375	16.0	Lost 2	Gen. Petraeus tells Washington to surrender. Good thing no one’s watching.

Central	W	L	Pct	GB	Streak
Chicago Cubs	57	38	.600	--	Lost 1	The best of the NL but they will still make deals to get better. Heading for the Series.
St. Louis Cardinals	53	43	.552	4.5	Won 1	There’s a brilliant mind behind those sunglasses. LaRussa is LaMotivator.
Milwaukee Brewers	52	43	.547	5.0	Won 1	CC to their trade, senor. No bull(pen)!
Cincinnati Reds	46	50	.479	11.5	Lost 1	They’re on the road to nowhere. Griffey’s Reds swan song.
Pittsburgh Pirates	44	50	.468	12.5	Lost 1	The streak will live! For many teams the X factor will be who gets Nady.
Houston Astros	44	51	.463	13.0	Won 2	The worst team in Texas.

Worst	W	L	Pct	GB	Streak
Arizona Diamondbacks	47	48	.495	--	Lost 1	The D-Backs love interdivision games. They’re best against the Worst.
Los Angeles Dodgers	46	49	.484	1.0	Won 1	A .500 record may be enough to win this awful division, But L.A. could finish short(stop).
San Francisco Giants	40	55	.421	7.0	Won 1	Not as close to the top as their record indicates.
Colorado Rockies	39	57	.406	8.5	Lost 4	Trivia Question: Can anybody remember who was in the Series last year against the BoSox.
San Diego Padres	37	58	.389	10.0		Those camouflage uniforms can’t disguise that they are a lousy team.

Bill Chuck is the creator of Billy-Ball.com (www.Billy-Ball.com) and, with Jim Kaplan, is the author of the book, “Walk-Offs, Last Licks, and Final Outs – Baseball’s Grand (and not so Grand) Finales,” with a Foreword by Jon Miller, published by ACTA Sports, and available worldwide. Autographed first editions are available by contacting, Bill@billy-ball.com or order directly from Acta Sports or from your favorite bookstore.